Through the third eye: Rocking the floor of Parliament

As the budget session of Parliament begins this week, the Opposition has a series of issues to target the government with. Topping the list is, of course, the helicopter purchase scam. Then comes the political bout involving Rajya Sabha deputy chairman PJ Kurien over the Suryanelli rape case. The Opposition, especially the Left, is hoping the Congress will eject Kurien before the session even as AICC managers are sniffing around the BJP and JD(U) to know if these two will go all out against the deputy chairman. Knowing the BJP is keen to ensure "a united opposition" against the UPA, the Left says the saffron party will be forced to target Kurien. On whether the Left will join the BJP in demanding an apology from home minister SK Shinde for his "Hindu terror" remark, the comrades are indicating a clear lack of interest in the "Parivar's special concerns".

As for government managers, they won't mind any number of "rocking the floor" incidents as long as it does not affect the number game and the finance minister's big-bang budget outing.

First show

This Thursday will mark President Pranab Mukherjee's maiden address to the joint session of Parliament at Central Hall. Though the President's address to the joint session is the policy statement of the government and the text of the President's speech is traditionally cleared by the Union cabinet, Mukherjee's political profile - and the overall political environment in the run-up to the session - is making many in the UPA and Opposition look forward to this Presidential address with some curiosity.

Will Rahul show up?

Having completed his 'indoor sessions' with AICC office bearers and PCC/CLP leaders, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is finalising a series of tours to various states. The indoor sessions witnessed many leaders trying to impress Gandhi by giving their "free and fair views" on organisational matters by demonstrating 'the natural skill' of the average Congress leader (read under-cutting and blaming each other). With Gandhi now set to undertake his national tour, various PCC/CLP leaders are already at each others' throat in their attempts to manage Gandhi's visits to their respective states so that each of them can play "eager host-cum-capable leader". In short, the build-up offers Rahul Gandhi another reason to skip most days of yet another upcoming Parliament session. Or will the House at last get a chance to hear from the newly-anointed 'playing captain of the Congress poll team'?

Cat and bell

The Kerala assembly is witnessing a piquant scene. Marxist veteran VS Achuthanandan, as the Opposition leader, is spearheading the Left Democratic Front's (LDF's) attack on the Oomman Chandy government. Almost every day, the LDF stages walk-outs and each time VS leads from the front with thunderous speeches. This despite the fact that the faction-ridden CPI-M Kerala state committee last week formally passed a resolution removing VS as the Opposition leader, charging him with "indiscipline and anti-party activities" for his attacks on state party boss Pinarayi Vijayan. Since this action against VS requires the endorsement of the party central committee (CC), the anti-VS resolution has now been sent to the politburo (PB) for consideration and placing it before the CC. Knowing VS' removal will risk a vertical split in the state party, a nervous PB is showing no hurry to call the CC meeting to take up the matter.

Prakash Karat says the PB will only meet next month and that he was "not aware" of the Kerala state committee's resolution! As AKG Bhawan tries to fend off its "Kerala human bombs", nonchalant VS continues to lead the same party leaders in the assembly who voted for his removal as Opposition leader!

A face and party

The appointment of Vijay Goel as president of the pollbound Delhi state BJP unit has surprised many given he is not seen, even by his own partymen, as someone quite capable of matching Sheila Dikshit's skills, reach and image on the electoral field. But, Goel says "give me 200 days and I will deliver Delhi for BJP". Dikshit fans retort with a counter-take: "having got Goel as the BJP face, it is going to be non-stop party-time for Madam for the next 200 days". Quite a pre-poll build-up!